(Replace rtl871x with the actual module name causing the conflict, if known.)

What appears in the terminal when you run sudo modprobe ath9k_htc ?

If you are running Kali Linux inside a virtual machine, the host operating system might be hoarding the USB device.

Add a line at the end:

:Some versions may offer a specific open-source firmware package. sudo apt install firmware-ath9k-htc

ls /lib/firmware/ath9k_htc/

In this article, we provided a step-by-step guide on installing the Atheros AR9271 driver on Kali Linux. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install the driver and utilize your Atheros AR9271-based wireless adapter for wireless penetration testing and other tasks.

The ath9k_htc driver should load automatically. To verify, run:

This issue usually means the firmware is missing from the /lib/firmware directory. You can manually download the official firmware file ( htc_9271.fw ) from the Linux firmware repository and place it directly into the directory: sudo wget -O /lib/firmware/htc_9271.fw https://kernel.org Use code with caution.

lsmod | grep ath9k_htc